- WNPS and DWC are working to eradicate the problem
Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) Gal Oya team, are currently undertaking a project to clean up Senanayake Samudraya of discarded fishing nets and other debris leftover by fishermen, which are posing a serious threat to local wildlife.
According to WNPS General Secretary Jehan Canagaretna, they were approached by representatives at Gal Oya, who informed them of “ghost fishing nets” littering the waters and harming the environment. Putting it simply, Canagaretna explained that certain fishermen are given permits to fish on the Senanayake Samudraya in the Gal Oya National Park, and when they fish, they leave nets to catch them. These nets, when acquired even the slightest damage, are then abandoned, and left to float around the Samudraya, hence the name “ghost nets”. “The receding water at the Senanayake Samudraya is at very low levels in recent years, which we can only assume has been caused by the current climate crisis,” he added. When the water recedes, these nets get caught on to the trees that were submerged when the Senanayake Samudraya was first built.
When the district reps of the society approached them, and inquired if they could provide them assistance by funding the project to clean up the nets, Canagaretna connected with a WNPS member who was based in New Zealand and asked him for help. The member promptly took up a collection from Sri Lankans living in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the US in order to fund this project and immediately sent the funds to the WNPS here.
Threat to local wildlife
Senanayake Samudraya is a haven for local wildlife and covers an area of over 5,500 acres. During the rainy season, when the Samudraya is at its full capacity, it can hold up to a 100 ft of water; so during periods of drought, the water evaporates and reduces, causing these nets that were floating to lower themselves and attach onto tree that are still living underneath the Samudraya. Canagaretna informed us that these nets stretch along the previously submerged trees and then become a death trap for flying birds.
Upon visiting the Senanayake Samudraya, Canagaretna was able to speak to a local, who informed him that the amount of birds that visit the area has significantly reduced. The local hypothesised that when birds see the corpses of other birds hanging in these nets, they get scared and stay away from the area.
In some parts of the Samudraya, Canagaretna elaborated that there are waves; “These waves are not as rough as the ocean, but the force is strong enough to move these nets and cause big animals like crocodiles to get tangled in them.” He further informed us that the DWC reported that countless dead crocodiles, turtles, water birds including migratory species, and even pangolins were found entangled in discarded ghost nets.
He added that there were nets that had gotten partially buried on the bed of the Senanayake Samudraya when there was water and when the water receded, it caused larger animals like piglets to get caught up in them. When these piglets get spooked, Canagaretna explained that they tend to run, which causes them to get further entangled in the nets. “They generally squeal for help, and if their mother cannot help them escape the clutches of the net, then she abandons them, leaving them to fall easy prey to other animals,” he said. Just like this, porcupines and wild boar have suffered the same fate.
A sustainable solution
There were 10 workers in total that worked in three days on two boats to clean up the Senanayake Samudraya, which is now completely clean.
Addressing the bigger issue, Canagaretna noted that these nets will continue to be abandoned by fishermen because the fishermen who are given these permits do not take responsibility for their actions or the environment. Since these nets are made with nylon, Canagaretna explained that they are looking for a company or organisation that would purchase these nylon nets as material and recycle and convert it into another product. Giving us an example, he commented: “With polyester, MAS used eco-spindlers to convert the polyester into fabric and made clothing that even the Sri Lankan cricket team is using.” This has not yet been done with nylon, but Canagaretna added that they are in discussions with a few companies on whether a similar process could happen. There are a few international companies that they have pitched to as well, but unfortunately have not yet received a response from.
Canagaretna added that they aim to tell the fishermen that they should bring back the nets instead of leaving it around. We were informed that these nets cost Rs. 12,000 per net, and Canagaretna questioned how these fishermen can afford to leave them around as they are inevitably losing their income as well.
“This is our hope for a sustainable option for the future where every two months or so, we buy back a lorry load of nylon nets and find a company able to convert them into another material,” he said.
End goal for the project
The project will protect the lives of many species of local wildlife and the WNPS also hopes to carry out workshops with the local fishing communities to educate them on the dangers of irresponsibly discarding fishing gear in and around the waters of Senanayake Samudraya. The clean up is now complete and all nets have been cut up and disposed appropriately.
Canagaretna also noted that this problem is not exclusive to the Senanayake Samudraya; even fishermen that fish at sea have the tendency to leave their nets either in the sea or on the beach, which again causes harm to the environment and marine life. So, they hope that if this project is successful, they can apply the same process to the sea fishermen as well. “We hope to negotiate a plan where we offer to pay them by the kilo to bring back these nets and sell them off to a company that can find use for them,” he explained.
